- Reno earthquakes of 2008
The Reno earthquakes of 2008, also known as the "Mogul-Somersett Earthquake Sequence", are an unusual swarm of
earthquake s which are occurring in or near the westernReno, Nevada suburbs of Mogul and Somersett. The quakes began inFebruary 2008 , but the first significant quake of the series occurred onApril 15 ,2008 , registering a 3.6 magnitude. OnApril 24 ,2008 , two quakes in the same area registered 4.1 and 4.2. OnApril 25 ,2008 , the quake of largest magnitude occurred, registering 4.7 on the Richter scale and causing damage in the immediate area around theepicenter , including destroying a section of the Highland Ditch, Reno's main source of water. In addition to these significant quakes, hundreds of smaller ones have also occurred in the same area. This event is significant because no known dominantfault line has been responsible for theearthquake swarm occurring in the region. It is also highly unusual because the quakes have, for the most part, been limited to a three mile area. TheUSGS estimates that over 620 earthquakes have occurred in the general three mile vicinity since the swarm has been monitored.Seismologists with the
USGS as well as the [http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ Nevada Seismological Laboratory] expressed concern that the increasing magnitude of the felt quakes may indicate that a larger earthquake is imminent. As yet, they have not identified the particular tectonics involved with these earthquakes. However, they have stated categorically that volcanic activity is not involved. [cite web|url=http://www.seismo.unr.edu/feature/2008/mogul.html|title=Special Earthquake Report|publisher=Nevada Seismological Laboratory|accessdate=2008-05-10]The last "major" earthquake in the Reno area in occurred on
April 24 ,1914 , registering 6.1; the state's most powerful quake to date was a magnitude 7.1 quake south ofWinnemucca , in1915 . [cite news
last = Griffith
first = Martin
title = Reno urged to prepare for worse as earthquakes continue
publisher = Associated Press
date =2008-04-26
url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-04-26-3812784782_x.htm
accessdate = 2008-10-11 ]References
External links
* [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080426/ap_on_re_us/reno_earthquake Reno Earthquakes AP April 26, 2008]
* [http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/?region=Nevada Nevada Earthquake Information]
* [http://www.seismo.unr.edu/feature/2008/mogul.html Nevada Seismological Laboratory Latest Earthquakes Map]
* [http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/FaultMaps/120-39.htm USGS Maps of Recent Earthquake Activity in California-Nevada]
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